'Drug dealer' shot dead in 'gunfight'

A suspected drug trader was killed in what police said was a gunfight between two groups of drug dealers in Kushtia's Bheramara upazila early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Ratan Ali, 25, son of Moyen Ali of Goalgram village in the upazila.  

Khondokar Shamim Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bheramara Police Station, said two groups involved in drug dealing traded gunshots at Goalgram village in the upazila following a dispute.

On learning about the shooting, a police team rushed to the spot around 3:30am.  

“On their arrival police found a dead body on the spot,” Shamim Uddin said, “who was later identified as Ratan.”

Police also recovered a pistol, 200 pieces Yaba and 27 bottles phensidyl from the spot, he said.

There are nine cases, including four for drugs and three for robbery, filed against Ratan with Bheramara police station,” the OC said.

In another incident a suspected drug dealer was injured after police shot rubber bullets at him.

Local people said a team of police, led by Sub Inspector SI Badal Kumar Mandol, raided Tetultala village while chasing drug peddlers transporting contraband drugs. As one suspected trader Shafiqul Islam Shafu tried to run away, police fired two rounds of rubber bullets and he was shot in both legs. The others fled the area.

Kaliganj Police Station OC Maqbul Hossain said another case was filed against the arrested Shafu who already has 19 drug cases filed against him with Kaliganj Police Station over the last two years.